Chapter Five #2
He held her hand at her door again and sighed. “Just a few days until the legal matters are taken care of. Then you are free, and I am free.”
“Threat or promise?” She tilted her head toward him.
“Yes.” Sern waited until she was safe in her building, and he got back in his car.
It was almost ten, and she got back to her apartment and got changed for bed. Tomorrow, she would be back on what was left of the project. Then, she needed to decide what she wanted to do with her nails for Saturday.
She smiled, got her laundry organized to do the following night, and got her clothing for the following day organized. Tonight had been surprisingly fun, aside from Nelson’s involvement. The workout made her feel centred, and a little exercise was better than none at all.
She crawled into bed and smiled as she remembered Sern sucking his pasta in and getting lashed across the cheek.
She had reached out and smoothed the sauce away, licking her thumb before she clocked what she was doing.
He was smiling softly, and she quickly returned to her own meal. No chance of getting anything on her.
They had discussed Nelson’s attack, the evidence of stalking, and what would likely come of his attack.
She would probably have to testify on the assault, but he would be with her.
She was wondering how much accidental danger would bump into her where she needed him at her side. Eudora hoped her run of luck continued.
The next morning, she was back at work and occasionally fielding calls from law enforcement, and she made an appointment to come in and sign her statement. There went her lunch break.
She answered her work phone and blinked at the voice. “Hello? Eudora?”
“Yeah. Hi, Athena. How are you doing?”
“I just found out from Likon about what’s going on. It’s taken me a couple of days to calm down. Nessa? He was cheating on you with Nessa?”
“Yes, but you know our situation. It was a platonic marriage by design.”
“But... you two are so cute together.”
“And now he can be cute with Nessa.”
“He... uh... told me how you found them.”
“They were in the middle of the living room. Hard to miss. He was in rut and had been gradually scenting on her a bit, according to the inside of the car.”
“Fuck. Tyler misses you.”
“I miss him, but there isn’t a situation where I will run into him again.” She winced. “And I am sort of seeing someone who actually has an interest in me, I think.”
“Oh, honey. Likon likes you.”
“We are good friends and okay roommates. We aren’t lovers.”
“Right. Fuck. When are you going out and about again?”
“Are you going to the Sunday auction?”
“Yes. Ohmygod. Are you going, too?”
“Yes. And I have clothing I like that doesn’t wash me out. See you there. I have to get back to work.”
“Right. Oh, I am so excited. I am going to hug the stuffing out of you.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up.
Eudora put her headphones back on and continued working. No one had touched the project in the interim, mainly because they didn’t know where to start.
She felt the vibration of her phone and stopped for lunch.
Her boss came by. “Can’t you just finish that one?”
She looked at him blankly. “I have to go to the precinct and sign a statement. I was attacked by my ex-husband’s lawyer last night, out in front of this building. The late guard witnessed the tail end of it.”
Her boss blinked. “Oh. Are you okay?”
“Yes. High school self-defense and a lot of powerlifting kicked in.” She smiled tightly. “I arranged the appointment during my lunch, and I don’t have a car, so I have to go. I will finish this part of the project this afternoon.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
She nodded. “See you in an hour.”
He paused. “Take the time to eat. You get all weird when you are hungry.”
She nodded. “I will stay until it’s done tonight.”
“Thank you. Can you do any work on the weekend?”
“Not as much as I would like. I have an event to attend on Sunday. I can probably work Saturday, though.”
“Please. The bosses want to see it early.”
“Okay. No pressure.” She sighed and headed out of her department and to the elevator. Sern had texted to say he was outside, and it was nice to have a ride to a place which was not designed to be comfortable.
He took her hand when they waited in the front office and again when they were in an interrogation room. An investigator came in and verified the situation the previous night, and when she verified and signed the typed copy, Sern signed as the witness.
He said calmly, “We need a copy of that. Our next stop is the courthouse.”
The man who had been speaking to her nodded and went to get a copy.
“So, now we get a temporary restraining order, and then we wait for the final hearing. Today, we are just seeing a judge.”
They got the copy and headed out and off to the courthouse.
The application for a restraining order had been filed, and the scheduler smiled dreamily at Sern.
She whispered, “He normally takes a break in fifteen minutes, but he can slip this through. He’s very accommodating as long as his omega isn’t in heat. ”
Sern nodded. “We will take a seat in the back.”
The woman nodded with a high blush to her cheeks. She turned and got to typing, got a sheet of paper, and walked it into the court with their file. They followed her, and Sern kept hold of her hand.
They slipped in back and settled on a bench. The clerk brought the file to the secretary, and the judge sighed.
He ruled on the case he was hearing and then looked down and said, “Chyris versus Weller?”
They got up and stepped to where the bailiff pointed. The judge looked at Sern, who was holding her hand, and smiled. “Right, Miss Chyris, you are seeking a restraining order against Nelson Weller?”
She nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He paused and smiled. “Why?”
“Oh. Because he has been stalking me, spying on me, and last night he grabbed me and tried to haul me somewhere.”
“Somewhere?”
“I didn’t let him continue. When the shock wore off, I was able to deter him, but I don’t want to have to do the heavy lifting all the time.”
He looked at her and then at Sern. “I thought you were married to Likon.”
“It was a marriage of convenience, and the convenience ended with a third party. So I went for a divorce, but Nelson had apparently never filed for the marriage license, and Mr. Copperwell has been helping me unravel it. The only thing real was the name change I unnecessarily made. So that is going to go right back to Calloway as soon as I get paid.”
He raised his brows. “Paid?”
Sern said, “Judge Hall, Nelson used the legal mess to freeze her accounts and insist on a forensic audit. I am guessing he was going to offer to sweep in and rescue her, as it seems to fit with some of his commentary.”
The judge read the file. “Ah. There it is. Right. I am going to grant the temporary order. I want you back here in eight weeks, and we will see about issuing the permanent order.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I do have one question that is probably stupid.”
“Go ahead.”
“How much am I able to defend myself with my bare hands? What is reasonable damage to him if he’s not very bright?”
Judge Hall looked at her. “Whatever it takes to get you safe, Eudora.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Judge Hall.”
“Right. Order is granted. Have a good day.” He rapped the gavel down, got up, and went out the back.
The secretary smiled. “The order will be at your firm in two hours. The email will be with you in an hour, Mr. Copperwell.”
“Thank you, Suzanne. It is much appreciated.”
She smiled, and the blush happened again.
Eudora smiled and walked out with him. “That’s it?”
“It’s starting, but can you check your bank balance?”
She nodded. “When we get to the car.”
She went through the process of installing the app, opened the account with her thumbprint, then laughed weakly.
“It’s there. I can get at it again. Thank you.
” Tears in her eyes, she leaned toward him and pulled him in, kissing him.
At the electric contact, her eyes opened wide, and as she leaned back, he raised a brow.
“Not how I imagined our first kiss, but still sweet.”
“That wasn’t a kiss, that was a sudden sentiment of enthusiasm.”
“An ejaculation?”
She felt her cheeks flare crimson. “Your word.”
He nodded. “It has been much on my mind this week.”
She looked at him and huffed. “Right. I guess I have to grab lunch and get back to work. I am nearly finished with a small project.”
He nodded. “I know just the place.” He took out his phone and texted someone. A moment later, he got an answer and grinned. “Fast lunch here we come.”
They drove off, and she had no idea where they were going until he pulled up in front of Hynura. “Wait, so not only do you always find a parking space, but you always get a reservation at some of the most popular places in town?”
He grinned. “That is the gift of the bloodline. Fortune.” He got out of the car and walked around to let her out. She pivoted her feet onto the sidewalk, and he pulled her upright, holding her against him.
She inhaled sharply and looked up at him. “Is the legal stuff done?”
“Almost. Now that Nelson has been arrested, things will go faster. Likon’s lawyer is doing everything but handing over his house. There is a lot of remorse on his side.”
“Okay.”
“He hasn’t contacted you?”
“I had the receptionist block him, and I didn’t give him the new number.”
“Ah. Perhaps you should.”
“Why? I don’t want to see him.”
“Speaking face to face makes things easier. I can arrange a meeting if you like. We could get it out of the way this evening.”
She wrinkled her nose as they walked into the restaurant. “But I was planning on doing laundry tonight.”
He looked at her in astonishment and grinned. “Now, that sounds like a fun Friday night.”
“Get your mind out of my panty drawer.”
He was still grinning when the hostess saw them. “Mr. Copperwell. This way please.”
“Eat here a lot?”
“The dumplings are fast, and I can get back to work.”